New chairman appointed as CRASH prepares for 20th anniversary

Published: 06 October, 2015

CRASH, the construction and property industry charity for homeless people, has announced the appointment of a new chairman, as well as the provision of advice, products and grants to other UK hospices from January 2016.

The announcements have been made as the charity prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.

In November, Ian Tyler will step down after 10 years as chairman of CRASH to focus on his duties as chairman of Bovis Homes, among other commitments. He will be succeeded by Alan Brookes, chief executive of Arcadis UK, who over a thirty-year career has amassed management experience in the UK and Asia.

Mr Brookes joined EC Harris through the acquisition of Povall Flood Wilson in 2000. From 2004, he served as regional managing partner for the UK division, including 19 offices outside London, and also ran ECH’s Asian business from Hong Kong, returning to the UK in 2013.

He has been the chief executive officer of Arcadis UK since January 2014 and led the combined Hyder Arcadis team of 3,900 UK employees.

Along with his fellow Trustees, Alan has played a key role in the decision to expand the charity’s beneficiary base to include hospices, enabling CRASH to support a greater number of vulnerable people.

In addition to the new appointment, the charity has announced that from January 2016, CRASH will be able to provide the 200 adult hospices and 40 children’s hospices in the UK with professional expertise, products and grants.

Broadening the beneficiary base in this way means that CRASH can add value to the fundraising of patrons who already support hospices with tangible donations of professional expertise and building materials, it says.

By improving the built environments in which these vital services are provided, CRASH will seek to enhance the quality of support provided to people facing life limiting illness, their families and the staff who care for them.

To honour its patrons’ generosity and loyalty, CRASH held its annual ‘Above and Beyond’ awards reception on 30 September, hosted by UBM at its head office. Attendees heard speeches from a variety of figures, including CRASH chief executive Francesca Roberts and representatives from homelessness charities that have received support.

Patrons Network Rail and Areen Design received trophies for providing the greatest value or professional expertise, and for providing materials respectively. EC Harris LLP was recognised as the top fundraiser.

The CRASH Tony Denison Award for Outstanding Contribution to Helping Homeless People was given to Cliff and Rose Ackenclose for its work on the St Vincent de Paul New Bridge Project in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Medals were awarded to Emily Boyd, of Argent LLP, who valiantly ran in this year’s London Marathon, and Owen Sisk for his Cape Point and Robben Island Swim. Ms Boyd and Mr Sisk raised a phenomenal combined figure of over £9,000 for CRASH.

The awards crowned a year that saw work undertaken on more than 60 projects, including the Pilsdon Community, Emmaus Brighton & Hove and the No Limits Drop-in Centre in Southampton.

Ms Roberts said: “Thank you for the tremendous loyalty and generosity that you have shown to CRASH which has enabled the charity to achieve so much over the last 20 years.

“Your support as patron companies of CRASH will continue to underpin our future work to create places that care for people who are homeless or have life-limiting illnesses.”

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